Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp gives verdict on Darwin Nunez after Leicester win | Football

The Reds found themselves behind at Anfield after just four minutes as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was allowed to run through Liverpool’s defence and slot past Alisson.

But Liverpool turned things around before half-time thanks to two fortuitous own goals from Leicester defender Wout Faes.

The first came as the Belgian defender attempted to clear Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross, the second after Nunez’s chipped effort bounced back off the post and into Faes.

Liverpool should have put the game to bed after the break – Nunez and Mohamed Salah both wasted good chances – but Leicester were unable to find an equaliser as they slipped to back-to-back defeats since the World Cup break.

Missed chances have been a reoccurring theme of Nunez’s Liverpool career to date but Klopp insists his £64m summer signing is improving and contributed to the win despite not getting on the scoresheet.

‘It was a brilliant performance from him tonight,’ Klopp said after Liverpool closed the gap to fourth-placed Tottenham to two points.

‘I know people only want to look at the stats but the [second] goal comes from him. It was a clear improvement to the last situations. He didn’t just shoot, he chipped it and it was great.

‘The chance he created for Mo as well. He took three defenders out of the game pretty much. That’s special, that’s really special. I’m really happy about that.’

Nunez has scored nine goals in 21 appearances for Liverpool since his big-money move from Benfica last summer.

Liverpool had slipped well behind Premier League leaders Arsenal before the World Cup but have boosted their top-four hopes with back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Leicester since the return of domestic football.

‘On top of that, we played further on pretty much in Leicester’s hands. We lost the balls in the wrong moment, when we were too open, so for a long time we never got a foot in this game.

‘Then we had our football moments and we forced then mistakes; scored a disallowed goal and then the two own goals happened.

‘I think especially the second goal is brilliantly done – unlucky that it hits the post and even more unlucky for Leicester obviously that it is an own goal.

‘2-1 half-time, we knew we have to improve and we did. Line was higher, more aggressive in the challenges, more connected. But still, they had their moments, they played a really good game, credit to Leicester.